Apparatus for and method of heating a swimming pool

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a solar heater apparatus for a swimming pool which incorporates a submersible suspendible black body sheet to serve as a device to absorb solar radiation and transfer the collected energy to the pool water so that the pool water can be efficiently heated.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 236,656, now U.S. Pat. No.4,402,305, filed Feb. 23, 1981 by Richard D. Kremen and entitledApparatus for and Method of Heating a Swimming Pool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to method of heating a swimming pool,and, more specifically, to a method of passive solar heatingparticularly suited to use in a swimming pool.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the past, swimming has become a preferred form of healthfulrecreation for a substantial portion of the populace. For convenience,many people have installed swimming pools at home. Since comfortrequired that the temperature of the water in the pool not fallsubstantially below 70 degrees Farenheit, people were generally facedwith a choice between using the swimming pool only in the warm summermonths, or installing a pool heater to heat the water to substantiallyextend the swimming season. Typically, such pool heaters utilizedelectricity or natural gas as an energy source for the required heat.While such energy sources were once "penny cheap," the cost of bothelectricity or natural gas have risen steadily. Since heating a swimmingpool required a substantial energy input, that rise in the cost ofenergy has turned the operation of such pool heaters into an expensiveluxury.

Another approach to heating the water in a swimming pool has been toutilize the free energy radiating from the sun. While the actual energyinput required to operate a solar heater is minimal, the hardwarerequired for such an installation has been expensive. Additionally, ofsuch a method of passive solar heating in a pool not already equippedwith a heater device required extensive reworking of the pool plumbing,generally rendering the addition of such a solar heater financiallyimpractical. A need existed for a low-cost method of pool heating whichrequired neither expensive energy inputs nor extensive modification ofan existing pool for installation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a cutaway perspective view of a swimming pool with first,second and third examples of the herein disclosed heater apparatus shownin various stages of deployment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the connection between theheater apparatus and the swimming pool.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cart portion of the suspensionapparatus of the swimming pool heater.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the cart coupled to an end of theswimming pool.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partially sectional view of the drive apparatus ofthe cart.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a bearing end of the cartapparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, it is an object toprovide a method of low-cost passive solar heating of a swimming pool.

It is another object to provide a method of passive solar swimming poolheating which is readily removable to permit unimpeded use of theswimming pool.

It is a further object to provide a cart apparatus to permit readyinstallation and removal of a submersible passive solar swimming poolheater apparatus.

It is again another object to provide a sound, rot resisting structurefor a submersible passive solar collector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a solar pool heaterapparatus is disclosed, comprising: liner means for absorbing solarradiation; and suspension means for removably suspending the liner meansin the pool.

In accordance with another embodiment of this invention, a method forheating the contents of a pool is disclosed, comprising the steps of:removably suspending a black body in the pool; and exposing the blackbody to solar radiation.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of thisinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of the preferred embodiment of the invention as illustratedin the accompanying drawings.

THE SPECIFICATION

Referring to FIG. 1, three separate ones of the herein disclosed poolheater apparatus are generally shown respectively by reference numbers10A, 10B and 10C. The pool heater apparatus 10A is shown installed in atypical swimming pool 4. The pool heater 10B is shown partially unreeledfrom a cart 20, being installed in (or removed from) the pool 4. Thepool heater 10C is shown mounted on another cart 20, prepared forstorage or transportation to or from the pool 4. The heater apparatus 10is thus particularly well suited to use in existing swimming pools 4which do not have provision for installation of a conventional solarheating system relying upon external collectors to gather the solarenergy.

The pool heater 10 is provided with a fabric sheet 40 which can beunrolled into, and suspended within, a pool 4 to provide a high degreeof solar absorbtivity. Natural convection within the pool water removesthe collected energy from the sheet 40 to substantially preventre-radiation of the absorbed energy while also warming the water.Maximum effectiveness can be obtained by suspending the sheet 40 at ornear the bottom of the tool 4, permitting natural convection tocirculate the coldest portions of the pool water past the surface ofsheet 40. The fabric sheet 40 is preferably black, to maximizeabsorbtivity. The actual material of the fabric sheet 40 is light weightto permit ready manipulation of the heater 10, but of necessity has aspecific gravity greater than one, so that when installed in the pool 4,it sinks below the surface to effectively heat the water. The preferredembodiment of the heater apparatus 10 utilizes a carbon blackethylene-propylene rubber material for the fabric sheet 40. The rubbermaterial can be a continuous thin layer, or alternatively can beoverlaid upon a backing sheet of other material, as for example rip-stopnylon or a cord matrix (refer also to FIG. 2). Thus, it can be seen thata removable light weight pool heater apparatus 10 is provided which issimple to use, relatively low in initial cost, and which requires onlysolar energy input for operation. Depending upon the dimensions of theswimming pool and the width of the sheet 40 employed, one or more of thesheets 40 may be used to provide optimal heating of the pool 4.

As shown by the heater 10A, the fabric sheet 40 can be supported in thepool 4 by a suspension means, or apparatus, as shown generally byreference number 60. To permit unobstructed use of the pool 4, thefabric sheet can be removed and stored upon the cart 20, which isanother portion of the suspension apparatus 60. Thus, the entire heaterapparatus 10 can be moved from poolside and stored in another convenientlocation.

Referring also to FIG. 2, an enlarged perspective view of the couplingbetween the sheet 40 and the suspension apparatus 60 is shown. Thesuspension apparatus 60 is provided with a series of hooks, a first ofwhich is shown by reference number 62, which are inserted into theopposite ends of the pool 4.

Portions of the fabric sheet 40 are removed to reveal the internalstructure. The sheet 40 is vented with a multiplicity of apertures 42 topermit a flow of water therethrough both to allow the sheet 40 to sink,and to enhance natural convection. Structural integrity is provided forthe sheet 40 by a matrix of cords 44 coupled thereto. The cords 44 arepreferably comprised of a material which exhibits substantial tensilestrength, but which is also relatively impervious to rot. Typicalexamples of such cords 44 would include polyethylene or nylon cords. Thegrommets 64 are each inset within an individual cell of the matrixformed by the cords 44. Thus, the grommets 64 can transmit stresses,arising when the heater 10 is suspended in the pool 4 or is being woundonto the cart 20, to the entire section of the sheet 40 without tearingor other damage.

Referring also to FIG. 3, one of the hooks 62 is shown convenientlyanchored in a recess 6 in an apron 8 of the pool 4. Such a recess 6permits the heater 10 to be suspended while avoiding protrudingobstructions at poolside. The suspension apparatus 60 is also providedwith a series of grommets 64 inset into the corresponding opposed endsof the sheet 40. The grommets 64 can either be hooked directly onto thehooks 62, or alternatively can have a line 66 threaded through thegrommets 64 which allows the line 66 to be engaged onto the hooks 62.

Referring then to FIG. 4, a perspective view of the fabric sheet 40stored on the cart 20 is shown. The cart 20 is provided with a frame 22,a spool 24 both rotatably and removably coupled to the frame 22, and adrive apparatus 26 for conveniently winding the fabric sheet 40 onto amandrel 23 of the spool 24. The drive apparatus 26 is of a well-knownhandle-driven type, and is provided with a ratchet mechanism disposed toretain the position of the fabric sheet 40 to prevent "backsliding" ifthe drive mechanism 26 is released while the sheet is being wound aboutthe mandrel 23. The ratchet mechanism can also be released to allow asmooth, uninterrupted unreeling of the fabric sheet 40 from the spool 24into the pool 4.

To permit ready transport of the cart apparatus 20, a pair of wheels, afirst of which is shown by reference number 28, are coupled to a firstend of the frame 22. To provide stability when the fabric sheet 40 isbeing installed in or removed from the pool 4, the cart is also providedat a second end with an anchor apparatus as shown generally by referencenumber 30.

Referring further to FIG. 5, an elevational view of the cart 20 with thefabric sheet 40 removed is shown. As shown, the anchor apparatus 30 canbe simply at least one, and more preferably two, threaded fasteners 32engaged in corresponding threaded inserts 34 set into an apron 8 of thepool 4. The mandrel 23 of the cart apparatus 20 is provided with aseries of fingers 36 which can individually be coupled to either thegrommets 64 or portions of the line 66 reeved through the grommets 64.

Referring then to FIG. 6, an enlarged elevational view of the driveapparatus 26 is shown with portions removed to show the drive couplingbetween a square shank 25 of the spool 24, and the other portions of thedrive apparatus 26. The square shank 25 drivably engages the driveapparatus 26, but is also slidably mounted therein to permit removal ofthe spool apparatus 24 from the drive apparatus 26. In this manner onecart 20 can be used to retrieve or unreel multiple fabric sheets 40 onindividual spools 24, thus allowing the series of fabric sheets 40required for heating even a large pool 8 to be compactly stored.

Referring further to FIG. 7, an enlarged perspective view of an end ofthe spool apparatus 24 is shown with a reeled-up fabric sheet 40 mountedthereon. The spool apparatus 24 is also shown provided with an axle 27which is rotatably, but removably, engaged by a yoke portion 21 of theframe 22.

While the invention has been particularly described and shown inreference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention which is limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of passively heating the water in aswimming pool comprising the steps of:winding a sequence of individualstrips of heat-absorbing material unto a mandrel; reeling out a firststrip of heat-absorbing material; securing the first end portion of thestrip reeled out to the far side of the pool; removing the first unwoundstrip from the mandrel; attaching the opposite end of the first strip tothe near end of the pool; suspending the first strip between oppositeends of the pool with a substantial portion thereof disposed in thewater; sinking the disposed portion of the strip of heat-absorbingmaterial due to the holes therein; reeling out a second strip ofheat-absorbing material; continuing said steps of securing, removing,attaching, suspending, sinking, and reeling out until a sufficientnumber of individual strips of heat-absorbing material have beensuspended and sunk to substantially cover the pool or enough of the poolfor generating the desired quantity of heat; exposing the suspended,sunken strips of heat-absorbing material to solar radiation; absorbingheat from said solar radiation; dispersing the heat collected by thestrips of heat-absorbing material by natural convection within the pool;further spreading the heat due to increased convection from the holes insaid strips; gradually evenly the raised temperature of the water in thepool until a desired temperature has been reached.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising the steps of:disconnecting the near end of afirst strip of heat-absorbing material; connecting the first strip ofheat-absorbing material to the mandrel; releasing the secured portion ofthe opposite end of the strip at the far end of the pool; reeling in thefirst strip of heat-absorbing material; rewinding the first strip ofheat-absorbing material onto the mandrel; disconnecting the near end ofthe next strip; continuing the steps of connecting, releasing, reelingin, rewinding, and disconnecting, until all of the individual strips ofheat-absorbing material have been retrieved and rewound onto saidmandrel.
 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps ofmounting the mandrel on a mobile frame;anchoring at least a portion ofthe frame during the reeling and unreeling steps; and moving said frameto a remote location for storing the individual strips wound on themandrel until needed to reheat the pool.
 4. The method of claim 3further comprising the step of reinforcing at least one of saidindividual strips of heat-absorbing material with a matrix ofinterconnecting cords operatively coupled thereto to strengthen thesheet particularly during the reeling and unreeling operations.